Star Alliance - Tokyo to USA in F - United vs ANA vs AC

I've got a trip from Tokyo to NYC coming up and I was wondering which airline would be the best. Since it's an award seat, I don't have much leeway on the routes and frankly I'm not too concerned about layovers. I just want the best experience and product.

ANA will be NRT to JFK on the 777-300 or I could go through LAX
United is the 747 via Chicago
AC is also the 777-300 via Toronto but I believe it's just a 2 cabin flight.

In what order would you rank these so I know how to look for availability?

Thanks in advance for your help.

I've got a trip from Tokyo to NYC coming up and I was wondering which airline would be the best. Since it's an award seat, I don't have much leeway on the routes and frankly I'm not too concerned about layovers. I just want the best experience and product.

ANA will be NRT to JFK on the 777-300 or I could go through LAX
United is the 747 via Chicago
AC is also the 777-300 via Toronto but I believe it's just a 2 cabin flight.

How would you rank these so I know how to look for availability?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Personally, I would take ANA to JFK. Newer airplane, good seat, great food/service. Nonstop.

https://www.ana.co.jp/wws/japan/e/asw_common/inflight/guide/f/seat/first_square/

That's my preference but there's not too much available in F. Would you feel the same way if I had to take ANA via LAX?

Thanks!

That's my preference but there's not too much available in F. Would you feel the same way if I had to take ANA via LAX?

Thanks!

The LAX seat would be the same. But then you woudl have a 5 hour ride in UA domestic F.

Do you have the miles to route through Europe? You can get LH F at the last minute and then maybe even some time in the FRA FCT!

The LAX seat would be the same. But then you woudl have a 5 hour ride in UA domestic F.

Do you have the miles to route through Europe? You can get LH F at the last minute and then maybe even some time in the FRA FCT!

The UA LAX - JFK on the 757-200 are p.s. F, which is an acceptable service in my opinion for the duration of the flight. Obviously the best choice is non-stop NRT to JFK, but NH 10 can be a little hard to get award seats in F, although I have seen it happened.

AC has no F service. Executive First is a Business Class product, and I had bad experience with them every time I flew with them. Worn Seats, horrible food, delays seemed to be the norm for my experience. However, I had encounter some good cabin crews before, although 95% of them are unpleasant.

UA's 747 F product is really kind of a glorified C product. The extra thing you get with your meal service is probably the soup. However, their recent F meals aren't too bad and are edible. Service can be a hit or miss on UA. I have flown some of the my best flights on it, and some of my worse. The seat itself is quite big, but they don't offer the touches that you would see in a good F product. I have found the seat to be alright for sleeping. However, UA F is definitely a lot more pleasant than AC's Executive First.

For the safest bet, go with ANA transpacific, even though you might need to get on a UA p.s. F from LAX to JFK.

I'd opt for ANA myself

I think you should also consider Asiana through ICN. I'd prefer that to UA or AC.

Do you have the miles to route through Europe? You can get LH F at the last minute and then maybe even some time in the FRA FCT!

Miles for JFK-NRT no matter TPAC or TATL is the same, more problem is if OP manage to get new F for both JFK-FRA and FRA-NRT on LH. Despite FCT in FRA, I would be hesitated to get one leg in LH old F.

Not to mention, if OP is a fan of Japanese food, do NOT take LH period. LH's Japanese catering is really mediocre even in F.

As a previous poster said, UA F isn't "real" F. The lounges, ground service and in-flight product are all lacking. The seat is big and comfortable with lots of storage but that's where it ends.

I've flown both AC and UA a lot and I definitely prefer AC to UA (except for intra-Asia flights with NRT crew) but you are right that they only have 2-class service. I think they have a decent C product but you can't really include them in a comparison with F services.

NH on the other hand is just amazing. It's up there in my top 3 airlines. OZ would be my second choice as well if you can't get NH. It's less convenient than the direct flight to NRT but they're equally good and you can enjoy the F lounge at ICN which is quite nice. An added bonus is you might be able to connect to a flight into HND, saving you time when you get to your destination. (although I doubt they have 3-class service on these short hops)

ANA, i've flown ANA to/from Japan in the past and the service was great!

One of my favorite lie flat seats as well as they put a nice thick foam mattress over it when your ready to sleep.

Wrong thread

Wrong thread

me? I thought my reply was relevant to the OP.

I fly to and from Japan a lot, and always go ANA. United doesn't even come close.

me? I thought my reply was relevant to the OP.

Sorry no, I left a reply that was meant to be in a different thread so I deleted it and put 'wrong thread'. Probably would have been better if i just put 'deleted' ;)

Sorry no, I left a reply that was meant to be in a different thread so I deleted it and put 'wrong thread'. Probably would have been better if i just put 'deleted' ;)

Cool gotcha now. I misunderstood.

Happy day!

AC has no F service. Executive First is a Business Class product, and I had bad experience with them every time I flew with them.

I agree with all the other posters that you should go with ANA or perhaps Asiana in F. I also agree that AC's Executive First is a business class product (also only requiring business class miles). However, from my experience it is the strongest business class product *A has on offer trans pacific (or trans atlantic). The main argument for it is the herringbone seat, but also food is excellent, in my view.

I agree with all the other posters that you should go with ANA or perhaps Asiana in F. I also agree that AC's Executive First is a business class product (also only requiring business class miles). However, from my experience it is the strongest business class product *A has on offer trans pacific (or trans atlantic). The main argument for it is the herringbone seat, but also food is excellent, in my view.

A lot of people will respectfully disagree with your analysis that AC has the best transpacific business Class product. The New ANA and OZ hard products are far superior, and their service and food are also better than AC. SQ also provides excellent transpacific services.

In Transatlantic, SQ uses its A380, and Swiss Air's new product is also very good. I personally don't find herringbone seats especially comfortable, and they gets mixed reviews.

I agree with all the other posters that you should go with ANA or perhaps Asiana in F. I also agree that AC's Executive First is a business class product (also only requiring business class miles). However, from my experience it is the strongest business class product *A has on offer trans pacific (or trans atlantic). The main argument for it is the herringbone seat, but also food is excellent, in my view.

Respectfully disagree that AC has excellent food. It can be good, but not excellent. Having said that, I would always take ANA over AC for transpacific. Have not had pleasure of flying Asiana, but hope to rectify that in the future.

ANA! You´re comparing great F with average at best F ( UA ) or decent J ( AC ). Enough said.